John Wilbert & Savita Kumari
Port Blair, Jan 11: A large number of Tourist vehicle drivers and other tourism stakeholders today gathered at the parking area near ASI building and staged a protest against the Administration’s sudden decision to close all tourism spots in Port Blair, following surge in COVID-19 cases.
Nearly 300 to 400 people from different Tourism Associations were present at the protest site. The protest began at 09:00 AM in the morning where the protesting people demanded that these tourism spots should not be closed, all of sudden.
Mr. G Bhaskar, the President, Hoteliers’ Association of A&N Islands, who also reached the protest site, said that no doubt that COVID-19 cases are increasing, but the sudden closure of tourism spots is wrong as this major decision should be taken after discussing the matter with tourism stakeholders.
“Now tourists are facing difficulties and sudden closure is creating a negative image of Andamans for the long run,” he added.
The administration should talk to stakeholders and should listen to their problems, he added.
As per information later at around 01:00 PM in the afternoon, the Stakeholders were called by Assistant Commissioner/Sub Division Magistrate (SA) Mr. Dilkhush Meena, IAS where he asked the tourism stakeholders to submit in written, all their demands and assured them that necessary action will be taken in this regard at the earliest by Administration.
As per information received, all tourism stakeholders of different associations will submit a written letter with their demands and grievances to the Administration tomorrow. The protest was later called off at around 02:30 PM.
